MALACAÑANG has dismissed a bureau director of the Department of Budget and Management for favoring certain agencies in the release of notices of cash allocations (NCAs).

The Palace upheld the recommendation of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to dismiss Virginia Garriel, director of the DBM Systems and Procedures Bureau, for causing the premature release of NCAs to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (Region 5), and the Bukidnon Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

PAGC’s investigation was prompted by an anonymous complaint stating that Garriel was seen accepting "rewards in cash or in kind" in exchange for the early release of NCAs to some government agencies.

PAGC obtained evidence that Garriel, in three separate memoranda for then Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, claimed that her bureau received requests from PCSD, DENR-EMB, and Bukidnon PENRO at certain dates that were months earlier than the dates when they were actually received.

PAGC said Garriel’s misrepresentations violated the "first-in, first-out" policy of the Budget Execution Guidelines. Garriel was found violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019) and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees (R.A. 6713).

The penalty of dismissal also includes the cancellation civil service eligibility, forfeiture of leave credits and retirement benefits and disqualification from re-employment in the government service.

PAGC’s announcement came after the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released the results of its Nov. 30-December 3, 2007 survey which showed the Arroyo administration getting negative scores on the issues of telling the truth to the people (net -11), ensuring that no family will be hungry (net -22), eradicating graft and corruption (net -29), and fighting inflation (net -29).

The survey, which had 1,200 respondents, showed government getting positive grades on the issues of foreign relations (net 20), reconciling with Muslim rebels (net 13), and fighting terrorism (net 12).

But government got neutral grades in helping the poor (net 4), promoting human rights (net 2), and fighting crime (net -5). Single-digit net rating is considered neutral.

Public satisfaction declined in nine out of 10 issues compared to the September survey: reconciling with Muslim rebels (from 16 to 13); fighting terrorism (from 21 to 12); helping the poor (from 18 to 4); promoting human rights (from 9 to 2); fighting crime (from +5 to -5); telling the truth (from +3 to -11); ensuring that no family would be hungry (from -17 to -22); eradicating graft and corruption (from -16 to -29); and fighting inflation (-14 to -29).